Towel holder and filler for same



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,817

' c. w. THOMPSON TOWEL HOLDER AND FILLER FOR SAME Filed March 14, 1927 2 ShE'LS-SIIGGT. 1

C harks WTIwmps an;

Feb. 5, 1929. I

c. w. THOMPSON TOWEL HOLDER AND FILLER FOR SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1927 lnv'nia E'L'Evne Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

i Era n I Tr CHARLES w. 'rnoMrson, or QUINCY, MAssAonUsnTTs, Assmnon'ro EAnvEY c. WHEELER, or osron, MASSACHUSETTS,

' 'rownL HOLDERAND FILLER FOR SAME.

Application filed. March 14, 1927. Serial No. 175,137.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive mechanism for a towel cabinet wherein a quantity of clean towels is stored,'so that the. indi- I vidual'towels may be readily removed, used and dropped into another part of the cabinet where they are automatically stored in orderly fashion, and another clean towel automatically present itself ready for use, 10 and'so on until all of the clean towels are used. I

Another object of my invention is to provide a compact bunch of towels formed y permanently attaching a number of 1!! lengths of toweling closely together to a fabric backing sheet. This bunch is put into the cabinetas a unit, the towels individually used and stored therein while still remaining attached to the backing sheet, and when all have been" used, withdrawn and laundered and dried as a unit. I have found that when such a bunch of towels is washed and dried the towels come out smooth and unwrinkled, and do not require any mangling or ironing. This eliminates the cost of expensive mangling machinery, also the towels cannot be used for shining shoes, as dust cloths, etc., nor can individual towels be stolen or lost. It will, therefore, be seen that my towel bunch saves space because of its compactness; saves money, labor and time since the towels'need not be ironed, and prevents loss and misuse because the towels are irremovably attached to one backing sheet. v V

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a perspective view, on a small scale of a filler for atowel supply device consisting of a bunch of towels united in accordance with my preferred method. Fig. 2 illustrates another way by which to unite the towels. Fig. 3 shows another arrangement thereof. Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the preferred form of cabinet for the reception and delivery of the towels showing the clean towels in position for withdrawal individually and the used towels properly stored. Fig. 5' is a sectional view on a small scale of, another,

form of holder for the towels. Fig.6 is a perspective view of still another form.

In the preferred form of my towel grouping illustrated'in Fig. 1, the towels 1 are each doubled and stitched along the fold to a strip of strong fabric 2, which I term 33 in fins 33 formed onreach side of a carrier, whereby each length of 'toweling makes two towels. 'A multiplicity of these lengths are located closely together to form the towel filler. The other methods illustratedsfor thus disposing. the towels are shown in Figs. 2 and 3; that of Fig. 2 concorners, and running a cord 1 through all cords attaching the towels to fabric flaps 5, 6. The method shown in Fig. 3 consists in securing to thestrip: 2 a large number of transversely disposed metalic dovetail members 7, into which'may be drawnthe edges of the towels 9* having a cord 10 stitched therein. j 1' Among other ways "of utilizin these bunches of towels, an end of "the abric 2 may be fastened upon a shelf 11, as indicated in Fig. 5, each towel being doubled. As each towel is drawn forward and used, it can then be permitted to dropland hang down from the remainder.

Another method consists in attaching the bunch of towels to an endless apron 13 mounted on rollers 14 each supported-at one end only to permit the. easy removal of the apron'and its contents. At one side ofthe apron is a fixed shelf 15 downwardlyin clined toward the apron but spaced'there from. The free edge of. the. lowermost towel being seized and drawn down therefrom, it also can be dropped after using. See Fig. 6. As each towel is withdrawn, it shouldbe pulleddownward sufiiciently to cause the endless apron 13 to carry the pendent used towels up into the cabinet compartment 16 to a limited-extent.

My preferred construction of cabinet, that shown in Fig. 4, consists of sides 20, back 21, top 22, bottom 23, a shelf2l dividing the interior into two chambers 25,26, the upper chamber being about half the height of the lower. Between the sides 20 and the adjacent edges of the shelf 24; a space is left for the free passage of arms pivotally supported at 31, and terminally united by a crossbar 32; said arms being preferably made by suitably bending a single length of iron rod into ,an. approximate U-shape. This cross bar passes freely through slots a vertical partition 34; and the lower end of spring 35 by means of. which the partition sisting in forming an eye at-each, of two 34 is resiliently pressed toward a swinging door 36 normally locked by means of latches Inthe partition 34 is a slot 39 having its edges forced forward sufficiently to permit the button 40 attached to the carrier fabric 2, to retain the towels 1 in place on the shelf 24. At the other end of the carrier is an eye 41 adapted to be caught on the hook 42 rising from the cross bar 43 which unites arms 44 pivotally supported at 31 and provided with tension springs 45 for drawing them inward.

In filling the cabinet, the door 36-is unlatched and swung up out of the way.

The

towels 1, each having been given a single fold at approximately midlength sothat the lower chamber 26. As each towel is drawn out, the partition 34 presses the remainder forward under the urging of the springs 35, andthe arms 44 draw the used towels inwardly under the urging of springs 45.

When all of the towels have beenv used, the endsof the carrier 2 are disconnected from the partition 34 and hook 42, the bunch is removed, washed and dried as a'whole.

. hat I claim as my invention is:

1. A filler for a towel supply device which comprises a Washable backing sheet or carrier of flexible material having. provision for attachment to the actuating means of a towel supply device, a multiplicity of sheets of towel material stitched along closely adjacent, parallel lines, respectively, to secure said sheets to said washable backing sheet. i

2. A filler for a towel supply device which comprises a towel backing sheet or carrier having means whereby it may be fastened to a towel supply device, a multiplicity of sheets of towel material inseparably attached to said carrier, said towel sheets being folded uponthemselves so that their free ends are adjacent to. said carrier.

3. A filler for a towel supply device, which comprises aflexible carrier, a multiplicity of sheets of towel material having lines. of permanent attachment to said. carrier, said lines of attachment being so closely related as to provide a bunch of towels, and the free ends of the towels being turned inwardly to provide folds.

4.'A filler for a towel supply device,

carrier inward.

wardly to provide folds, said flexible carrier being provided with end extensions beyond said bunch, which end. extensions have provision for attachment to the actuating means of a towel supply device.

5. A holder for a carrier having a bunch of towels attached thereto side by side, which carrier has provision for attachment to the actuating means of the holder, comprisinga supporting means for said bunch of towels, a cabinet separated into two chambers by said supporting means, a member adapted to press saidv bunch of towels forward in one chamber,.:and means adapted to receive an end of said carrier and to draw said carrier with the used towels into the other chamber, said cabinet having provision whereby a towel may be grasped and withdrawn from it.

6. A towel holder fora fabric carrier having an eye at one end and a button at its other end, and a bunch of closely'disposed towels attached to said carrier, comprising a supporting means, a cabinet separated into two chambers by said supporting means, a member removably receiving said button and adapted to yieldingly press said bunch forward, and means below said supporting means adapted to be engaged with said eye and to yieldingly draw the latter and the carrier within the lower chamber of said cabinet.

p 7 A holder for a carrier having a bunch of towels attached thereto side by side, com

prising a cabinet having an intermediate shelf, a door for the space above but spaced from said shelf, a vertical partition yieldingly pressed along said shelf toward said door, removable means for attaching one end of said carrier to said partition, and yielding means connected with the other end of said carrier drawing it within the cabinet beneath said shelf.

titiontowardsaid door, and a sprlng arm adapted to be engaged with an end of said carrier below said shelf and to draw said 9. A holder for a carrier having a bunch of towels attached side by side thereto, and having a button at one end, comprising a cabinet having a shelf laterally spaced from the interior of the cabinet, a vertical partition above said shelf having an open slot adapted to receive said button, a pair of arms having a cross bar uniting their upper ends loosely attached to said partition, the lower ends of said arms being pivoted to the sides of the cabinet, springs for pressing the upper ends of said arms toward said door, and a pair of arms having a cross bar adapted to be attached to the other end of said carrier, and pivoted at their lower ends to the sides of the cabinet, and springs for drawing the last-named arms inward.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of March, 1927.

CHARLES W. THOMPSON. 

